Door operator



Nov. 13, 1951 H. E. ROHRMAN DOOR OPERATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 9, 1946 W m a a m m m m w W04! f @Z w 1 4r. 0% i H. E. ROH RMAN DOOR OPERATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fl a 'T.

Ill

M W F Nov. 13, 1951 Filed Nov. 9, 1946 H. E. ROHRMAN Nov. 13, 1951 DOOR OPERATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 9, 1946 w 4 yr msrslvso woooe Patented Nov. 13,, 1951 q UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOOR OPERATOR,

Henry E. Rohrman, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application November 9, 1946, Serial No. 709,053

Claims.

My invention relates to sectional vertical sliding doors.

The main purpose of my invention is to provide vertically movable horizontally sectional sliding doors with horizontal tubular re-enforcing rods to carry independent door sections.

A further purpose is to use U-shaped tracks at both sides of the door, in which tracks tubular i e-enforcing rods are adapted to operate. These carry the door sections.

A further purpose is to provide U-shaped tracks of different lengths 'for difierent sections ofthe door. I

A further purpose is to provide a door with independent sectional members, which while it is lifted picks up the section of the door immediately above it.

Another purpose is to provide sections of a. vertically sliding door with projections on one section which are adapted to engage projections upon another section and carry the other section when the first mentioned section is lifted.

A further purpose is to provide sectional doors with hollow pipe re-enforcing members with which independent sections of the door are adapted to engage when the door is in closed or opened position.

A further purpose is to use sliding guides which are fastened to the independent door sections.

A further purpose is to provide a door which can be opened or closed without the use of weights or springs to counterbalance the door, by using low torque, high speed, instantly stopping and starting mechanism.

A further purpose is to provide instant starting and stopping by automatic brake means.

Further purposes will appear in the specification and in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic top plan view of my improved door structure.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the structure of Figure 1, showing the inside of the door and with the door in closed position.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a position of Figure 2, illustrating a detail of the chain connection with the lowest door.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic perspective of a detail of Figures 1 and 2 showing the U-shaped tracks as used in the above mentioned figures to enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section of Figure 2 taken on the line 4-4 thereof showing the independent door sections in lowered or closed position and to enlarged scale.

6 Figure 4. is an enlarged fragmentary sectional 2 view similar to a position of Figure 4, taken on the line l -4 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged section taken on the line 4 -4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5' is a fragmentary perspective view showing a portion of the door in operating position withinthe tracks.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing two difierent door sections having their pick-up projections in contact with one another.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical section to enlarged scale showing a modification and taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional plan view taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 6, some of the parts being omitted.

' Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 8-8 of Figure '7.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the door lifting and lowering mechanism with a brake applied thereto.

Figure 9 is afragmentary side elevation of the braking device of Figure 9, but showing a slight modification.

Figure 10 is a top plan view showing structure similar to Figure 9 and to reduced scale.

} Figure 11 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Figure 11.

My improved door is intended to be used in buildings such as freight stations, transfer or storage houses, and in garages where it is desirable to open and close doors quickly and reliably. V v

In Figure 1, I have shown a top plan view which clearly illustrates four U-shaped tracks l5, It, I! and l8,on one side of the door and I5, I6, l1 and I8 onthe other side of the door. These .U- shaped tracks are desirably made up of separate parts as willvbe more fully described hereinafter.

Within the U-shaped tracks in Figures 1 and 2 are positioned door sections I9, 20, 2| and 22. Eachdoor section at its lower horizontal end is curved at 23 to conform with the outside shape of atubular re-enforcing bar 24 extending along the lower edge. The edge of the curved portion 23 of each door section is welded at 25 to the tubular bar.

The lowermost door section l9, at its -'upper edge isc'urved at 26, to conform with the shape of the horizontal tubular bar. This is because of a desire for a fairly tight closure when the door section is lowered. This is also true of the meet- 5 ing edges of other sections ofthe door.

Mounted on each of-the curved portions 26 a bracket 21 securely welded at 26 and 29 to the curved upper portion and to the front of the door section.

The door section 20 immediately above the door section I9 is similar in construction to the door section l9 and has the corresponding curved ends 23' and 26. The same is true of the door section 2| immediately above the door section 20. The same curved endsare used in this door section as in the ones previously mentioned and these curved ends aredesignated at 23 and 26 Mounted on the top of the door section 20 is a bracket 21'.

This bracket 21' is mounted in a similar manner to the bracket 21 attached-to the lower door section I9. however, the additional bracket is secured to the bracket 21' at each side of the door, with.

its extension rearwardly adapted to be engaged by the bracket 21 of the door section I?! when the door section I9 is being raised to open the door.

It will be obvious that when the section 19 is raised, the brackets which are carried by the upper portion of the section will come in contact with the brackets 39, which project inwardly from the door 20 and a continued upward movement of the door section I9 will raise the door section 20. At the same time the rod 24 will be carried upwardly within the U-shaped tracks.

By a, continued upward movement of the door sections the projections carried by the door section 20 will then engage projections 30' of the door section 2| and accordingly raise the door section 2| and completely open the door. It will be noted that the section 22 is not moved. This section is a stationary one and is placed in the short sections I5 and I5 of the U-shaped track.

In Figure 4 the view is somewhat diagrammatic and the tracks are not illustrated. However, in dot and dash lines the door sections are shown nested at 3|, in raised or opened position.

The U-shaped guides are preferably made of separate U-shaped pieces welded together in any desired manner. This is clearly shown in Figure 5. Also in Figure'5 near the edges of this door section and at the outside edges of the re-enforcing tube, the brackets 21, 21', 21 are notched at 32, and each door section is notched at 33, 33' and 33 to fit about the adjoining flanges 34 of the U-shaped tracks. These are additional guiding means for the door sections when they are raised and lowered. These latter guiding means also aid in keeping the door structure in a secured position when the whole door is closed.

Mounted on the door section and secured at their ends, to the tubular re-enforcements are vertical sliding guides 35, 36, 31 and 38 also 35, 36', 31 and 38'. 'The vertical members 35, 36, 31 carry at their upper ends additional guiding arms 39-, 40 and 4|; 39, 40' and 4|. These arms 39, 40 and 4|; 39, 40' and 4| are apertured and are adapted to span one of the sliding guides directly above the door section on which it is mounted. In other words, when one door section is raised in addition to the guiding of the door section by the tubular re-enforcement engaging the U-shaped tracks, the edge of the door is guided by the notched engagement of the bracket 21, and in addition the vertical slide guides will prevent the sections from warping.

The door is raised or lowered by means of chain and sprocket connections. The chains 42 and 42' have their lower ends 43 and 44 secured to yokes 45 and 45, which yokes terminate in threaded ends 46, and are inserted through open- On the door section i lugs 41 in brackets 48, positioned at the bottom of the lowest door section H]. The yoke is held in place by means of a nut which is threaded on to the end 46 of the yoke with the nut coming in contact with a flange 49 on the bracket 48. This will securely fasten both chains to the lowest door section in order that the doors may be raised and lowered by chain control.

At the upper part of the door an idler sprocket 50 is mounted in bearing 5|. At the opposite side of the door at the top thereof, the lifting mechanism is illustrated diagrammatically in Figures 1 and 2.

If desired corrugations 54 may be provided on the door sections to aid in strengthening the doors. Each one 'of the three lower U-shaped track sections are angularly positioned with respect to the opening in the doorway. The uppermost section, however, is in the same plane as the opening in a, building. This, however, is immaterial as it is only a, matter of preference that the door sections be arranged in this manner as they could very conveniently be arranged to have the door sections operate vertically.

It will be evident that the angular positioning of the door sections in Figure 4 is desirable because of the proper drainage requirements in the door closures. It will be noted that the upper door section, which is the'stationary one in which the section or trim is in a vertical position, provides suflicient closure from the elements, as this section of the door does not move. However, in the lower sections which are movable, it has been found to be quite desirable to have the door sections mounted on an angle with respect to the door opening to divert the water outwardly away from the door proper.

It will be obvious that the arrangement of the door sections in which the ends of the doors are curved inwardly about the tubular supporting rods, will prevent the water from leaking into the door sections.

It will be evident'that the upper edge of a lower section operates upon the lower edge of an upper section in the same manner precisely whether it be the lowermost or second section, or the corresponding edges ,of the upper movable sections.

Each lower section in turn engages and lifts the section above for theentire range of the doorway opening.

At the top, the upper section is not movable and is merely a trim, so that the top section and the next lower section do not have this carrying relation between them, but in each case where two sections move, the lower one, on its upper movement carries the upper one with it by means of a bracket on the upper edge of the lower section engaging the bracket on the upper edge of the section below.

The door operating mechanism may be enclosed in any suitable casing 52, such as that illustrated in Figure 2.

The chains 42 and 42 which are secured to the lowest sections of the door are operated by sprockets 53 .and 53'. These-sprockets are mounted upon .a shaft 53 which has bearings in the casing 52. Also mounted upon the shaft 53 is a worm gear 54, which meshes with a worm 55, upon a shaft 56 in suitable bearings not shown. At one end of the shaft 56 a gear 51 is secured thereon, to engage a gear 58 upon a shaft 59, which shaft is driven by a reversible motor 60.

The opposite end of the shaft 56 carries a hub ordrum 6|, which is securely fastened to the shaft 56. Surrounding the hub 6| are braking arms 62 tached to a bracket .andvfi t. 'Thesebraking arms carry brake; shoes 64 ;and 65,, which engage the outsidersurface -of the outer ends resilient arms 69 and 10, which provide a. double wedge space and surrounda rod H ata'bracket 73. V I I .The extreme outer ends of the resilient arms -89 and 18 are providedlwith spring compression mechanisrn14, which comprises in Figure 9 a rod 15 rigidly fastened to the arm l9 and passing through the arm 59. The outer end of the rod I is threaded at 18 for a nut H, which provides for adjustment of a spring 18 to control thepressure of the arms 89 and surrounding theshaft A The bracket 13 has apertures 19 and 80 to allow for movement of the sprocket chain 42. The chain 42', which carries stops 8| and 82 to tilt the bracket 13 about the shaft 53 through straps 13 fastened to a collar 13 on the shaft 53 and thereby move the shaft 1 l through the bracket ex tension I2 into and out of braking engagement between the shaft and the resilient arms 69 and 10.

In Figure 9 a slight modification of the compression spring arrangement is shown. The springs 18" and 18 are placed about the rod on each side of the arms 69 and 10. In some installations this form of compression arrangement a with respect to the arms 69 and?!) is found to be more desirable especially when applied to a larger sized opening and a largersizedmotor.

A handle 83 is also connected to the bracket 13 and 'with this handle independent manualoperation of the door can take place by an operator, without depending upon the automatic operation.

The handle 83 has an extension bar 84 which operates the reversing switch 85. This operation is accomplished by a vertical up-and-down movement. The switch can be mounted anywhere within reach of the arm 83, but should be as close to the motor as possible. The reason for this is that it requires less wiring. It may be placed on the motor if desired.

By the up-and-down movement of the arm the switch makes two different contactsone which causes the motor to go clockwise, and the other one counterclockwise. This permits the door to move up and down. As the arm is connected to handle 83, the switch will automatically be turned off when the stops 8| or 82 engage the bracket 13.

To open the door, the handle 83 is pushed upwardly thereby pushing the bracket I3 and at the same time turning on the switch 85. This is done by an upward movement. This pushes the bracket 13 downwardly, thereby forcing the braking arms 62 and 63 away from one another, a1- lowing the brake to run free. The motor 88 revolves the shaft 59. The gear 58 on the shaft 59 also revolves and turns the gear 51, shaft 56 and worm 55. The worm 55 meshes with the worm wheel 54 and turns the shaft 53 thereby revolving the sprockets 53 and 53, then moving the chains 42 and 42' upwardly. As the chains 42 and 42' move upwardly the lowest section of the door is lifted upwardly. As the lowest section of the door continues upwardly it carries the next door section above it, and as the second door section previously mentioned are carried upwardly one of them engages the third section, which is carried upwardly into the position in Figure 4 arm 12, which is secured to where in dot and dash lines the three door sections are shown in raised position.

I To close the door the handle is pushed downwardly thereby reversing the above action.

Of course, my invention may be made in different sizes. I do not confine myself to any particular number of sections, althoughin the illustration herewith, I have preferred to show four sections of the door.

The height of each door will of course, determine the number of sections, also the number of U-tracks. Also I do not wish the height of each section limited to two circular re-enforcements, but may have as many as necessary for stiffening each section.

The number of sliding guides is immaterial, and these will be determined when it is found how many are necessary when installation is made to comply with the requirements.

The worm and worm gear must be of self looking design.

The whole power unit is encased in a casing, andruns in an oil bath, thereby lubricating the gears at all times.

My braking mechanism is very simple in construction; it is positive in operation and can easily be repaired.

In view of my invention and disclosure variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art to obtain all or part of the benefits of my invention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore claim all such insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my claims.

Having thus. described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: V

1. In a door lifting mechanism, chain by which a door is supported and raised and lowered, stops on the chain, sprocket means over which the chain is carried, a sprocket shaft mountingthe sprocket means, a brake bracket swingably mounted adjoining the chain and extending on both sides of the shaft and directly engaged by the stops in their stop positions, a brake operatively connected to the shaft and including brake arms urged toward gripping position and having Wedge surfaces in extension of the brake arms by which the brake arms may be urged apart, an operator on the bracket extending between the wedge surfaces and adapted to force the brake arms apart when the bracket swings, and a handle for swinging the bracket to release the brake.

2. In a door operator, a, reversible electric motor, shafting connected to the electric motor, sprocket means on the shafting, chain extending over the sprocket means and adapted to raise and lower a door, stops on the chain, a brake drum on the shafting, brake arms surrounding the drum and having between the ends of the arms wedge surfaces by which the arms can be moved apart, spring means urging the arms together, a brake bracket swingably supported transverse to the axis of the sprocket means and directly engaged by the stops in limiting positions, an operator on the bracket extending between the wedge surfaces of the brake arms and a handle connected to the bracket for swinging the bracket.

3. In a door operating mechanism, a motor, shafting and gearing driven by the motor, sprocket means on the shafting, chain for supporting a door and extending around the sprocket means, stops on the chain, a brake drum operarcane atively mounted on the shafting, brake arm's'surrounding the brake drum and having wedge surfaces between the arms at their ends, spring means urging the arm together, a brake bracket extending generally transverse to the axis of the sprocket, swingable about such axis and engaged by the stops in their limiting positions, an operator on the brake bracket extending into the wedge space and a handle on the brake bracket for swinging the bracket.

4. In a door operating mechanism, a motor, shafting and gearing driven by the motor including two shafts respectively at right angles to one another, a brake drum 'on one of the shafts, brake arms surrounding the brake drum and including wedge surfaces between their opposite ends, a spring urging the arm together,-sprocket means on the shaft transverse to the shaft on which the brake drum is mounted, chains extending 'over the sprocket means for supporting a door, stops located on the chain on opposite sides of the sprocket means, a brake bracket swingabl'y mounted about the axis of the "sprocket means, extending transverse to the sprocket axis below the sprocket means and having openings through which the chain passes on both-sides of the sprocket means, the stops being below the bracket, a brake operator mounted on the-bracket and extending into the wedge space between the brake arms, and a handle connected to one end of the bracket by which the bracket can be swung around the axis of the sprocket means.

5. In a door operating mechanism, a motor, gearing and shafting operatively' driven by the motor including two shafts at right angles to one another, a brake drum on one of the shafts, brake arms surrounding the brake drum and at their ends extending out therefrom first diverging andthen converging to'form opposite wedge "spaces, a spring urging the brake arms together,

a brake operator extending into the space between the arms at their ends and having a neutral position at the wide spacing and an operative position rocked to engage the wedge surfaces on both-sides of the neutral position, sprocket means on the shaft at right angles to the shaft carrying the brake drum, chain extending over the sprocket means for supporting a door, a brake bracket having openings which surround the chain on opposite sides of the sprocket means located below the sprocket transverse to the shaft on which the sprocket means is mounted and swingable around such shaft, stops on the chain adjacent the openings located below the bracket on either side of the sprocket means, the bracket mounting the'brak'e operator which extends into the wedge surfaces, and a handle on one end of the bracket adapted to swing the bracket and release the brake.

HENRY E. ROHRMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,225,606 Fogal May 8, 1917 1,260,561 Lovejoy Mar. 26, 1918 1,315,308 Homan Sept. 9, 1919 1,492,420 Burke et al Apr. 29, 1924 1,632,237 Lemon June 14, 1927 1,927,982 Howard Sept. 26, 1933 2,089,700 Kidder Aug. 10, 93 7 2,282,914 Wetterlein May 12, 1942 

